The True Name of the bat-like in "The Night
Riders" Revealed: ‘HOODRAT’
Matt Furie’s first publication, "The Night Riders," features
four unique characters: a frog, a rat, a dragon, and a
bat/rat-like creature. This wordless, dreamlike narrative
follows these characters through a fantastical landscape.
Given the absence of words in the book, there has been
much speculation about the names of the characters.
After substantial research, it has been revealed that the
real name of the bat-like creature in "The Night Riders" is, in
fact, ‘Hoodrat,’ while the names of the three other main
characters have also been uncovered.


The most concrete piece of evidence is found in
the book itself. While the body of the book
contains only illustrations, the endnotes page
features a very telling excerpt:
“In memory of Wat Thanks, Aiyana, Fox, Mystery,
Toki, and Hoodrat.”
So who are these individuals?
Wat: Matt Furie’s pet rat
Aiyana: Matt Furie’s partner
Fox: Matt Furie’s other pet rat
Mystery, Toki, and Hoodrat: Strangely named characters
Let’s break them down and also consider that "The Night Riders" includes four main characters: the
frog, the rat (inspired by Wat), the dragon, and the bat-like creature.
Character Associations in "The Night Riders":
Wat: The rat in "The Night Riders" is inspired by Wat, Matt Furie’s pet rat.
Toki: The dragon can be identified as Toki, consistent with the meaning of Toki, or dragon, in
some Japanese translations.
Now we are left with Mystery and Hoodrat—the two remaining names, and with two remaining
characters, the frog and the bat-like creature. While Matt Furie does not publicly speak on either
name outside of the excerpt from the book, it is highly unlikely that a frog would be named Hoodrat.
The bat-like creature fits the name.
Identifying Mystery:
By process of elimination, Mystery is pegged as the frog,
assuming Hoodrat is the bat/rat-like creature. This gets
more interesting with a video segment where Matt Furie
discusses the creation and storyline of "The Night
Riders." While narrating, the visual alternates between
the frog and rat riding a bike (as shown in the book) and
Matt Furie and his daughter riding a bike through the
neighborhood. This suggests that Matt Furie identifies
with the frog in "The Night Riders."
Additionally, one of Matt Furie’s characters from
his HEDZ NFT collection is named Mystery. This
figure in the orange hood, named Mystery, can be
seen as an alter-ego of Matt Furie himself.
Therefore, Matt Furie, aka Mystery, is
pseudonymous with the frog in "The Night Riders."
So, the bat-like creature, in conclusion, is named “Hoodrat”
Final Evidence:
Observe the order in which he gives his thanks in the endnotes: “In
memory of Wat. Thanks, Aiyana, Fox, Mystery, Toki, and Hoodrat.”
This order matches the presentation of the characters in the book
(excluding Aiyana and Fox, who are are determined not to be
characters):
Wat: The rat
Aiyana: Matts wife
Toki: The dragon
Hoodrat: The bat-like creature













